Coarsegold is an unincorporated community in Madera County, California, USA. The name derives from the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s, when prospectors discovered coarse lumps of gold in a nearby creek. At one time, several dozen gold mines operated in the area. The population from the 2000 census for the 93614 zip code is 9,391. A recent news article placed the 2007 Coarsegold population at 17,000.
The Coarsegold Historic Village is located on Highway 41 between Fresno and the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park at an altitude of approximately 2000 feet. It is a very small town but does boast a few amenities such as a post office, a market, hardware store, bank, florist, party store and a few restaurants plus tourist shops.
Every year from mid-October to mid-November, tarantula mating season takes place and the town is full of tarantulas. Locals go out of their way to protect and respect the arachnids during this time. There is a Coarsegold Tarantula Festival (the 10th annual festival took place in 2007) which includes tarantula racing, a competition for the hairiest legs of both men and women, and a pumpkin dessert contest.
Learn more about this city
City of COARSEGOLD, CA official site
City of COARSEGOLD, CA chamber of commerce
City of COARSEGOLD, CA general information
County of COARSEGOLD, CA official site
State of California official site